By Houston ISD campuses head into the new academic year with significant momentum in test results from 2023-24, and district officials expect to see continued improvement.
HISD has seen a dramatic increase in the number of campuses achieving higher letter grades in the 2024 accountability ratings compared to the unofficial 2023 ratings from the Texas Education Agency. (TEA)
- The number of campuses receiving “A” or “B” ratings has risen from 93 to 170, according to the district.
- The number of schools earning “D” or “F” ratings has decreased significantly from 120 in 2023 to just 41 in the first half of 2024.
For the STAAR Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology, and US History End of Course Exams, HISD students made substantial gains in four of five tested subjects, and in some cases far exceeded pre-COVID proficiency levels.
For grades 3-8, the most significant increases are in the number of students proficient in math and reading. Reading proficiency in all tested grades has surpassed pre-COVID levels, and HISD improved the number of students proficient in math at every grade level.
Key Takeaways From Analysis Of The 2023-24 Testing Results
HISD academic performance shows the following:
- HISD high schoolers showed growth on the STAAR tests in all five subjects tested—Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology, and US History.
- For grades 3-8, the most significant increases are in the number of students proficient in math and reading, which surpassed pre-COVID levels at every grade level.
- The share of students scoring at “meets grade level” or “masters grade level” increased at a rate higher than state averages.
How did the New Education Schools fare?
Schools operating under the NES system installed in 2023-24 show the following:
- The New Education System (NES) campuses saw double-digit gains in the number of students proficient in math and reading in certain grade levels.
- This suggests that the NES model is having a positive impact on student achievement.
What factors are providing the momentum?
HISD leadership believes that the new strategies and reforms have led to improved academic performance, which have shown support to struggling campuses.
Increased emphasis on teacher professional development could have contributed to improved instructional practices.
Greater involvement from parents and the community might have positively impacted student outcomes.
Implications of the improvement
Increased funding from the 2024 bond and actions by the Texas Legislature in the upcoming 2025 session is thought to further Improve test scores and accountability ratings.
Higher-performing schools are often associated with better student outcomes.
Continuing the positive trends in test scores and school ratings will provide economic benefits to the greater Houston area by enhancing the reputation of the district, which can attract families and businesses to the area.
What’s next for the district?
Overall, the significant improvement in HISD’s accountability ratings and test scores is a positive development.
The results suggest that the district’s efforts to enhance academic performance are yielding results.
The district is focused on continuing to monitor progress and address any challenges that may arise.
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